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Monday, September 5, 2011. Vol 36. Iss. 2.

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Photo by Ariel Lattimore

Ten years ago next Sunday – on Sept. 11, 2001 – America was viciously attacked. Never before had Americans experienced something like this in the continental United States.

While the final death toll was not as high as many of the wars that we have been in, the psychological damage was much higher. We had never felt so vulnerable and exposed.

The enemy had not only bypassed the gates, but had attacked the gates themselves. Fortunately, we have not only survived, we have grown stronger.

Engineers and members of the class of 2011, Matt Martin and Andrew West, want to ensure that the memory of those who died in the Twin Towers and throughout the War on Terror are remembered.

With this purpose in mind, they have worked with engineers from the Cheyenne Mountain base to create a pair of artifact displays. These displays will feature actual fragments of the towers.

They will be unveiled on Sept. 12; the Cheyenne Mountain display

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UCCS unveils artifact display

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Matt Martin and Andrew West work to get the artifact display together. will be opened mid- has a timeline of the memoration ceremony morning and the UCCS War on Terror etched in honor of that day. The display will be unveiled into it. ceremony will be held later that afternoon.

The display as a whole at America the Beautiful This project began will point toward the top Park on Sept. 11, starta year ago. Martin and of Cheyenne Mountain, ing at 8 a.m.

West were part of a se- toward the companion The sunrise service nior engineering proj- artifact. West and Mar- will include speeches by ect, which helped design tin were very clear— members of the Armed the artifact display on these are not separate Forces, civil servants top of Cheyenne Moun- monuments. They are, such as fireman and potain. They were later “one artifact, two dis- lice officers, and former hired by UCCS to design plays.”

Governor Ritter. a companion display UCCS has also played The display will also here on campus. a role in planning this be interactive. Students Martin and West’s pri- will be able to walk event with the city, and ority with this project right up to the steel even sponsored a high is to educate students. sphere, walk around school/middle school West said, “Pretty soon, it to read the timeline essay contest. The winUCCS will have students on the plate and even ners of that contest will who weren’t alive be- reach out and touch the read their essays at the fore 9/11. I’d be happy if artifact through the hol- ceremony. they walked away [from low sphere. Martin said, More information the display] wanting to “People want to touch about this event can know more.” the artifact. We want to be found at cosrememThe artifact display on let them.” bers911.org. Join the campus will be located The city of Colorado rest of the city in renear the stairway land- Springs is also hosting membering the fallen of ing at the top level of a 10th anniversary com- 9/11. S the Osborne building.

The artifact itself will be located in a hollow sphere four feet in diameter.

The sphere will rest on a pedestal which is banded with steel.

In keeping with the educational focus, this Photo by Ariel Lattimore steel band

PPCC tuition measure leaves some students in a bind Matt Sidor and msidor@uccs.edu Catherine Jensen cjensen2@uccs.edu

This summer, Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) issued a measure that required students pay their tuition bill in full by Aug. 1 or be dropped from classes and unable to enroll until the following semester.

Here at UCCS, like most universities and community colleges, tuition and fees bills are calculated before the next semester’s classes begin; this bill is due by the census date, which is usually two or three weeks after classes start.

Institutions are required to have an accurate head count by this census date, which is why students can add or drop classes before then without incurring a penalty or extra fee.

If a student fails to pay their bill before the census date, he or she will start to be assessed penalty fines and a hold will be placed on his or her record until the bill is paid in full. This hold prevents students from registering for new classes, ordering an official copy of a transcript or even receiving an actual degree.

Despite this, students can still attend their current semester’s classes as usual and utilize all the normal fee-based amenities of the campus, including the library, recreation center and the computer labs.

What PPCC has implemented, however, is a radically different set of regulations for bill payment. Previously, their procedures were very similar to that of UCCS, in that students could still attend classes even if their semester’s bill wasn’t paid yet.

Starting this semester, however, students were required to pay their bill or enroll in a payment plan that was due several weeks before classes even began. Students unable to

pay their bill in full by the first day of the semester weren’t allowed to attend classes.

The FACTS payment plan, which enabled students to split charges into monthly payments, was available according to the PPCC website.

“For a $35 non-refundable enrollment fee, you can establish payments for your tuition/fees either through an automatic bank payment (ACH), or your credit/debit card,” according to ppcc.edu. Students had to sign up by Aug. 29, however, in order to take advantage.

PPCC student, Keera Smith, said the change was difficult for some students because a lot of students, like her, pay for the summer semester just before the fall semester begins.

The new measure caused complications because while students were still in summer semester, they also had to pay for fall, and some simply couldn’t afford to do so.

“A lot of students don’t get financial aid until after the drop date [this year Sept. 6]. I know I can’t drop $1,500 on classes out of pocket,” Smith said.

Luckily, Smith was able to receive financial aid, and though the process looked foreboding in the beginning, she said, “I think people freaked out about it and didn’t think to go talk to financial aid.

I don’t think it’s quite as bad as it was made out to be.”

Smith added she has seen no visible decrease in student presence, and school was just as crowded when school began as she remembered it being in the past. There was fear; Smith said that if students became unable to enroll, professors would also suffer.

Smith added that notifying the student body sooner would have decreased the amount of anxiety it caused. “We weren’t notified until close to the end of summer semester.

It was a surprise to all of us.” S

News

Page 2

Monday, September 5, 2011

Office of Student Activities offers free weekly pancakes Matt Sidor msidor@uccs.edu Catherine Jensen cjensen2@uccs.edu

Come to campus early enough on a Tuesday morning, step into the foyer of the University Center and you just might smell some fresh, chocolate chip pancakes.

Following in the success of this program last year, the Office of Student Activities (OSA) is again offering free pancakes and coffee to students, staff and faculty on the first floor of the University Center next to the main stairway.

Student employees will be there bright and early at 7 a.m. every Tuesday to start grilling and they will keep going until 10 a.m. or their batter runs out, whichever happens first.

Long lines that stretch out toward the doorway are typical for Tuesday pancakes, so the earlier you can show up, the better; if

you’re an early-riser, 7:15 a.m. is practically guaranteed to have no wait time.

After trying doughnuts for a while and being unsatisfied with the grab-and-go mentality of the students and the lack of communication, OSA decided to try something new.

Pancakes seemed like a good choice and Karstens said it has produced the result they were looking for.

“When people have to stand at the griddle waiting for their pancakes, they talk to one another and we wanted to be interacting with students.”

The batter is made fresh by Sodexo early that morning and brought over at 7 a.m.

There is usually enough for 300 pancakes according to Karstens, who added that the first week they made 600. The entire OSA team serves breakfast, which sometimes features surprise treats, like the bacon that was available the first week of school.

Karstens added that fruit, including oranges and apples, will become more regular to provide a healthy alternative, and the Student Health Center on campus is also looking to bring over fruit to help out.

Though there haven’t been any problems with spills and people have done a good job of being respectful and letting everyone get food, people can be particular about their pancakes.

“People get upset when the chocolate chips run out,” Karstens chuckled. OSA coffee

the

cups are also available at each breakfast. This year’s cups are a deep blue with OSA’s logo.

They are more versatile than coffee mugs, Karstens said, because they

can hold both hot and cold liquids and people like the straws. Students who use the blue mugs on campus will receive

a discount on drink refills around campus.

The next pancakes grilling will be next week on Sept. 13 and will continue every Tuesday afterward.

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Monday, September 5, 2011

Page 3

Criminal Justice, Forensic Science departments merge seeking greater benefits for future Ryan Adams radams3@uccs.edu

These days, school budgets seem to only be getting smaller and smaller. That effect can be felt right here at UCCS with the recent merger of the criminal justice and forensic science departments.

Due to funding cuts, the two School of Public Affairs departments have decided to merge instead of trying to survive the funding cuts each on their own.

Both departments felt that merging would have great benefits for future students looking to major in criminal justice.

David Swaby, an instructor for the criminal justice department, believes that the merger will make the criminal justice program more appealing to current and future students at UCCS. “We feel that the forensics option adds greater depth to our criminal justice program,” he said. “Our goal as instructors in the department is to provide

a well-rounded, hands-on and interdisciplinary approach to criminal investigations and legal aspects within the criminal justice system.”

The forensic science department used to be housed in the Beth-El College of Nursing, but the idea of the department becoming part of the School of Public Affairs made sense money-wise and education-wise.

“As the field of forensic science is regulated and primarily based upon the legal system and the criminal justice system, it was felt that the opportunity for growth and expansion would be better achieved if the option was housed in the School of Public Affairs in general and specifically within the criminal justice program,” furthered Swaby.

Not only will both departments be saving money, but the idea of having the forensic science department around other criminal justice related programs is ideal for students to easily learn and network with others.

“Additionally, the location of the forensic science option al-

lows for interaction with health sciences, sociology, psychology and chemistry,” said Swaby.

“Forensics within the CJ program provides students with increased networking opportunities, as well as an opportunity to interact with agencies that may have been unknown before. It allows students to participate in internships directed in their course of study and focus on hands on experiences within the criminal justice community.”

Ideally, the criminal justice department hopes that the merger will attract more students to the program.

The model Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (BACJ) degree program that has been set up allows students to have the option of a forensic science focus, along with many others such as public policy, corrections and law enforcement.

Even though some disagreement has come up since the merge has taken place, criminal justice is becoming a more popular program; adding the forensic science option may make it

Public Safety implements MyForce app Sara Horton shorton@uccs.edu

The Department of Public Safety has recently implemented the MyForce app, which can best be described as a sophisticated panic button for smartphones.

UCCS is only the second university to sign up with MyForce (the first being University of Denver) but is the first to actively test MyForce.

Jim Spice, chief of police and executive director at the Department of Public Safety, learned about the app at the Colorado Association of Institutional Law Enforcement Directors meeting, where police chiefs from various universities throughout Colorado meet in Denver every quarter. MyForce was invited to the last meeting, where they introduced their app.

“It takes anywhere from twenty seconds to a minute for dispatch to get the alert,” estimated Spice, who has worked on campus at UCCS for 13 years. He added that the campus is “very safe.”

UCCS already has a text messaging system that informs students of security

threats, but Spice is always open to new safety options and technologies. “It’s always better to be prepared.

Safety is not just one thing to keep you safe,” he said.

The app’s main screen looks like a button, which can be activated by tapping a phone’s screen and only disarmed by using a PIN. The Department of Public Safety receives a notification if the app is activated on campus, while local police stations respond to any off-campus notices.

When the MyForce app is activated, it registers to UCCS dispatch with a loud series of beeps and pulls up a screen on a dispatch computer divided into two sections: personal information uploaded by the user and a map that locates the user with GPS. A user’s safety issues, health problems, a physical description, allergies, emergency contact information and an optional photo are available to dispatch once the app is activated.

Following its activation, MyForce creates an audio recording of the incident being reported and sends it to dispatch, which then calls the user to confirm if an emer-

gency is taking place. At this point, the user can only deny an emergency by confirming a safety word, which is set up once the app is downloaded.

The map appears to dispatch as an image similar to Google Maps, and though mostly accurate, MyForce still has to correct a few bugs.

During a test of the MyForce app inside the Department of Public Safety Building, GPS showed that the user was across the street instead of inside the building.

Until the app is disarmed, GPS continues to update the user’s location every fifteen seconds. “Some buildings get better signals than others,” said Spice, who also noted that the Department of Public Safety tended to have weaker signal reception than other buildings on campus.

The MyForce app is free for UCCS students to use on campus, but individual users must pay for a subscription.

The app is available for purchase at various online app stores, such as the iTunes App Store.

Monthly subscriptions cost $11.99 and annual subscriptions are $89 with the use of promotional code UCCS8911. S

Photo illustration by Alex Gradisher

A photo illustration of the merging of the Criminal Justice and Forensic Science departments. all the more appealing to future students.

Another benefit, according to Swaby, is that having the Forensic Science option available gives more students a chance to participate in a rapidly growing field of study, which in turn could make it easier to secure a future job.

“This degree option is in a fast and growing field and the

undergraduate program grooms students for graduate school and assists them in securing employment in their chosen field,” stated Swaby.

If anyone is looking for more information on the criminal justice department or their programs, the School of Public Affairs is located in Dwire Hall 356 and their phone number is 255-4993. S

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News

Page 4

Monday, September 5, 2011

Student dorms booming: UCCS plans for expansion Ryan Adams radams3@uccs.edu

As students settle in for another year at UCCS, the administration is beginning to think about the coming years for our expanding university.

According to Susan Szpyrka, the senior associate vice chancellor for administration and finance, both housing villages for the 2011-2012 school year have wait lists and Szpyrka said she doesn’t see the growth slowing down anytime soon.

“Both housing villages at UCCS have seen unprecedented demand from students this year for living accommodations,” said Szpyrka. “Alpine Village, which has

300 beds in an apartment configuration, is full with a waiting list of three students as of Aug. 31. Summit Village, which has 597 beds in suite-style configurations, and which is home to freshmen students, is also full,” stated Szpyrka, with a waiting list of 75 students.

In the Alpine Village student apartments, they have a wait list of three men but several openings for women. Female students in Alpine Village who have unoccupied bedrooms in their apartments are consequently being offered a $250 munch money incentive to move into another apartment in order to consolidate enough female residents to open more apartments for men, according to Sz-

pyrka.

Unlike many other universities, including CUBoulder, UCCS does not require freshman to live on campus their first year.

This means that freshmen are actually choosing to live on campus rather than live with their parents or somewhere else off-campus.

The convenience, amenities and academic environment are three things Szpyrka mentioned which contribute to this decision.

To meet the growing demand, Szpyrka said, UCCS is taking steps to provide additional housing in the future. “During the summer of 2012, nine floor lounges in Summit Village will be converted to double bedrooms with

a private bath, adding 18 more beds to the inventory. These rooms will be available for the fall 2012 semester.”

The administration also has plans for beyond next year to keep up with the blistering student housing numbers. “UCCS will explore other opportunities to expand housing for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Additionally, UCCS is in the design process to add two new halls to Summit Village that will add 197 beds, available [for] the fall 2013 semester,” said Szpyrka.

The administration predicts that May 2012 is when construction of these new halls will begin.

The selection and design process will take about 14 months, but the adminis-

tration is confident that the new halls will allow more students to live on campus.

Szpyrka said the UCCS administration and the architects of the new halls will work with student representatives to make the dorms more studentfriendly and efficient than the current halls of Summit Village.

Along with the new dorms being designed through the eye of the student, UCCS will build them to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Standards and apply for LEED Gold Certification.

“LEED promotes sustainable building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize

projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance,” stated Szpyrka.

Additionally, LEEDcertified buildings are more energy efficient and less expensive to maintain over their lifespans than those of traditional construction techniques, saving our institution money in the long run.

UCCS administrators hope that the new LEEDcertified dorms, along with the new rooms to be put in Summit Hall in 2012, can accommodate their unprecedented housing numbers and help eliminate wait lists. For more information on the housing options at UCCS, visit the UCCS website and search “housing.” S

Fill My Fridge: A convenient service offered at UCCS Molly Mrazek mmrazek@uccs.edu Gone are the days of empty refrigerators for on-campus residents. A fiveminute call and a to-your-door delivery of groceries can guarantee that doesn’t happen.

This year, Sodexo is re-implementing a service called Fill My Fridge. Introduced to UCCS by Sodexo President Tom Post last school year, the program will provide groceries to students who don’t have easily accessible transportation or time to shop for groceries.

He brought the program to UCCS because he felt there was a need for this type of program on college campuses, he said. It was offered at UCCS last year.

Interested students can visit the Dining Services website at uccsdining.com and place their order through the Fill My Fridge website. All over the country college campuses are participating in this service, as evidenced by the long list of schools to choose from available on the site.

There are six “move-in” packages of food to pick from, ranging between $25.99 and $77.99. These packages are also catered toward everyone from the breakfast fan, to the snacker, to the person who wants a meal in just a few minutes.

The program offers an assortment of items including macaroni and cheese cups, Hot Pockets and PB & J kits. Fill My Fridge will be offered for the entire school year at the “move-in” prices.

After the order is received, the student will receive a call from Sodexo to set up a time to either pick up the package at The Lodge or have it delivered directly to their room. The order is also packaged in sustainable, reusable bags, which can be saved and reused for the next delivery.

Former resident of on-campus housing, Jenna Straight, said of the service, “That’s so convenient! Not only for students without transportation, but also

Photo by Ariel Lattimore

A “Fill My Fridge” program tent was set up outside of The Lodge on Summit Village move-in day to promote and pass out sacks of food to the students. for student athletes and those working through school.”

Russell Saunkeah, the general manager of UCCS Dining Services said of the Fill My Fridge program, “I would say the chief benefit is that [students]can have these items delivered to their rooms and that they can order online.”

He also stated that there were already orders coming in for the Fill My Fridge packages.

The Fill My Fridge program joins the host of other convenient services UCCS dining offers, including the Late Night meal that students can eat at The Lodge between 10:30-11:30 p.m. one night a

week.

There is also the Overlook Café in the University Center, where students can enjoy Pizza Hut, sub sandwiches or Chinese food. And any hard-working tireless college student needs to be aware of the cafés on campus such as Jazzman’s and Dazbog. S

Monday, September 5, 2011

News

Page 5

US treasury default affects UCCS’ operations Matt Sidor msidor@uccs.edu

Early last month, lawmakers negotiated the raising of our federal debt ceiling, avoiding a default on our debts and a potential financial crisis that would have rivaled the Great Depression of the 1930s.

In the United States, our government can only spend money if Congress has approved it; if we want to spend more money than we actually possess, the US Treasury must borrow the money through debt instruments such as Treasury Bonds, and the limit on the amount of debt we can incur is also set by Congress.

Right now, for example, about 40 percent of our Federal Government’s expenditures is with borrowed money according to Timothy F. Geithner in “Letter from the US Treasury Regarding the Statutory Debt Limit.”

Alec Hamilton and Richard Yeh in “The Debt Deal - What Happens Next and What’s on the Chopping Block?” have claimed that up until Aug. 2, that limit was $14,294 trillion, which was set

in Feb. 2010, when Congress last raised our debt ceiling.

As a result of the last-minute negotiations in the days leading up to Aug. 2, our debt ceiling has now been raised $400 billion and legislators are still working to find ways to cut spending and/or increase tax revenues to avoid another debt ceiling increase in the near future.

In the wake of the last-minute negotiations and the stalled legislative processes on Capitol Hill, the Standards and Poor’s (S&P) credit ratings agency downgraded our country’s credit worthiness from the top-of-theline AAA rating to AA+; this is the equivalent of lowering the United States’ FICO credit score, if it could have one.

This move was controversial in part because S&P was the same agency that had given all the bad mortgage securities a AAA rating right up until the housing crisis of 2008 that kicked off our current economic recession,

said Martin Crutsinger in his recent finance article, “S&P Downgrades US Credit Rating from AAA.” The issues surrounding the federal budget, our debt ceiling and credit ratings are complex and varied, and this article won’t try to deconstruct them all.

A US Treasury default, however, could have had a direct impact on the normal operations of the UCCS campus in several different ways. In an interview with Susan Szpyrka, senior associate vice chancellor for Administration and Finance, she explained all of the possible ramifications on the campus.

For one, Stafford

loans, Perkins loans and Pell grants might have quit dispersing completely, leaving many students unable to pay their tuition and fees and therefore leaving the university budget with a noticeable deficit.

Additionally, many researchers on campus rely directly on federal grants through organizations such as the National Science Foundation; these grants might have stopped dispersing as well, forcing graduate students and post-docs to either scramble for new funding sources or pack up their operations.

Another factor in our fiscal operations is our campus’s own credit rating. Just as with the US

Treasury, ratings agencies review UCCS’ budget to determine our credit worthiness for financing of new construction projects such as the new housing towers that will be starting up over the next year.

UCCS presently has a AAA rating, allowing for low financing costs on our bonds. Standard and Poors’ downgrade of the US Treasury isn’t expected to trickle down into UCCS’ credit rating, but had our government fallen into a default, the downgrades from ratings agencies could have been more severe. Ultimately, this may have lowered our own rating and raised our interest rates considerably.

This would have se-

verely affected the campus’ budget and the rate of our overall expansion, likely resulting in higher tuition and fees.

Thankfully, the debt ceiling was raised and budget negotiations are continuing, so we’ve dodged a bullet – for now. As the debate continues in Washington, it is important to remember the impact their decisions have not only on our national economy but at our public institutions, as well.

UCCS strives to be as self-sufficient as possible, but it’s certainly not immune to the larger impacts of a recession or political power plays in Washington. S

Abstinence-only sex education programs cut Matt Sidor msidor@uccs.edu

It’s one of the many divisive, never-ending debates our country seems to always be having: Sex education in public schools.

Almost all American students receive formal

education in the classroom regarding this topic in some way or another, but the debate over how we conduct sex ed has always come down to one detail: To teach birth control, or not to teach birth control? That is the question.

Proponents of “comprehensive” sex educa-

tion advocate that many teenagers are actively practicing sex whether or not they learn anything about it in the classroom, and that it’s important to teach all forms of protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases – particularly the importance of using a condom

and how to use it.

On the other side of the debate, proponents of “abstinence-only” sex education argue that teaching about birth control sanctifies our youth from having sex before they are physically or emotionally ready for all of the consequences they may face.

They advocate for teaching only one form of birth control: not having sex at all until marriage. Not only is this the only 100% effective form of birth control and STDprevention, but it meshes well with certain personal religious doctrines.

A government report re-

leased in September 2010 by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drawn from face-to-face interviews of almost 3,000 teenagers over a two-year period, found that while almost all students are receiving sex education in the classroom, only about twothirds of them walk away with an understanding of birth control methods.

This is one of many studies indicating that abstinence-only educational methods simply aren’t working to prevent unwanted teenage pregnancies and the transmission of STDs. Also last year, the Federal government discontinued the funding of two abstinence-only education programs: The Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Prevention program and the Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE)

program, for a total of $112 million a year.

That same year, two new evidenced-based sex education programs were initiated in their place: The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) initiative, for a total of $155 million a year.

State education programs that wish to use these Federal funding programs, therefore, must teach comprehensive sex ed. The state of Florida, however, has declined these programs in order to continue their abstinence-only educational programs.

Most other states – including Colorado – are now in the process of reforming their sex education curriculums into comprehensive programs that teach birth control methods. S

Culture

Page 6

Monday, September 5, 2011

Hispanic Heritage Month celebration starts this week Caitlin Levy clevy@uccs.edu

Grab your Sombrero and your castanets and start celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Salsa, bowling, food and fun.

Hispanic Heritage month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, was made official in 1988 by former president Ronald Reagan and later expanded into a month-long event.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories and cultures of people whose ancestors came from Latin countries. These countries include Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean countries and all of the countries that make up Central and South America. This month is also about recognizing the contributions Hispanic American citizens, like the soldiers who are overseas, Nobel Prize in Physics recipient Luis W. Alvarez and No-

Club

bel Prize in Physiology recipient Severo Ochoa.

According to hispani c h e r i t a g e m o n t h . g o v, Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for many countries including El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Other important days within this month are Sept. 16 and 18, on which dates Mexico and Chile, respectively, declared their independence from Spain, both in 1821. But those are just a few of the many historic dates throughout His-

panic Heritage Month to be remembered and celebrated.

It is also important to celebrate less familiar Latin ancestors like the Aztecs, the Incas and the Mayans, as they played an important part in the culture, though they are not thought of often.

One way to learn more about this exciting time on campus is by talking with the Latino Student Union.

The club also has multiple events and activities planned this month to cel-

ebrate Hispanic culture.

Lyseth Silva-Garcia, president of the Latino Student Union, has many activities planned for the month, including trips to Denver, a bowling night and salsa lessons. SilvaGarcia added that she wanted to schedule even more upcoming events for the Latino Student Union and the public. Dates are currently pending.

Hispanic Heritage Month is an important time for the Latin community. This is a time to get

to know Hispanic cultures and to meet new people.

History, culture and background all define people and make them unique.

Silva-Garcia said, “It is important to celebrate all Latin countries and that the Latin people celebrate their heritage.”

For more information on Hispanic Heritage Month or the Latin Student Union and its upcoming activities, contact Lyseth Silva-Garcia at lsilvaga@uccs.edu or (303) 570-0559. S

Spotlight

Latino Student Union values family, community outreach Sara Horton shorton@uccs.edu

The Latino Student Union appreciates that a university club has business to handle, such as fundraisers or local charity work, but its members also recognize the importance of having fun throughout the process.

The club has been in existence since the early ‘70s, when its name was La Gente Chicana, and had mostly first generation students for members.

The group’s name was later changed to MEChA, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano deAztlan, in the early ‘80s.

LSU explained that it made the change to “become affiliated with the national organization to participate in the benefits of trainings and conferences at a national level,” but changed its name to Latino Student Union in the early ‘90s because the MEChA organization had gained the reputation of a radical organization.

At one of its weekly meetings, the Latino Student Union gathered at Clyde’s to discuss club business while enjoying a meal together and talking amongst each other, not one member without a smile upon his or her face.

“We’re family oriented,” said club president Lyseth Silva-Garcia when asked about what she would like

students to know about the club. Silva-Garcia considers her fellow club members family.

“LSU is a social oriented club that likes to raise cultural and social awareness and community outreach,” furthered Silva-Garcia. The Latino Student Union places significant importance on the community, which influences members to plan events such as Senior Night, where the club visits assisted living homes and treats residents to a game of bingo.

“Right now we’re trying to rebuild and make it more of a social club,” explained Silva-Garcia, who added that the club’s major event is Cinco de Mayo. “It’s a big event here on campus. There are dancers, live music, food for everyone throughout the day and usually a dance at night.”

Cinco de Mayo is still months away, but the Latino Student Union is keeping busy in the meantime with other activities, like planning a luncheon for Hispanic Heritage Month and a Latin dance night, where students can learn how to salsa.

The club’s big upcoming event is traveling to the Big 12 – a Latin conference in Chicago – in March 2012. With the aid of fundraisers scheduled throughout the semester, members hope to raise enough money to cover

travel expenses.

If the Latino Student Union’s meeting at Clyde’s serves as any indication, the upcoming trip sounds like an event that any fun loving student would not want to miss. Member Mona Joy Lopez mentioned the club abides by a quote

from comedian Katt Williams: “If you want to have a good party, hang out with Latinos.”

Although the Latino Student Union embraces Latino heritage, members want students to know that they do not have to be Latino in order to join, learn about

the culture or celebrate the Latin way. For more information on the Latino Student Union, email the club at lsu@uccs. edu or attend the weekly club meetings, which are scheduled for Fridays at 3 p.m. in the MOSAIC Office, University Center 110.

Photo by Robert Solis Are you a member of a UCCS club that would like to be featured in The Scribe? We want to hear from you! Email Sara Horton at shorton@uccs. edu and your club could receive a spotlight in an upcoming issue. S

Monday, September 5, 2011

Culture

Page 7

Local cupcake truck competes on Food Network Sara Horton shorton@uccs.edu

Sometimes the best treats are found in the unlikeliest of places. Operated out of a vintage 1971 Ford step-van nicknamed Coco, The Springs Cupcake Truck has been serving Colorado Springs cupcakes ever since the van was found and renovated in January.

It also happens to be a participant in ‘The Great Food Truck Race,” Food Network’s national competition where the food truck with the most votes through Sept. 12 wins $100,000. Coco is the first and only dessert truck in Colorado Springs and is sister to The Denver Cupcake Truck, an accessory to the Cake Crumbs Bakery, where both of the trucks’ cupcakes are made.

The Springs Cupcake Truck has eight regular and equally delicious flavors on its menu:

Chocolate Overload, Vanilla Party, Zippy Lemon, Mile-Hi Mocha, Pikes Peak Pistachio, Colorado Snowball, Carrot and, my personal favorite, Rockin’ Red Velvet.

Cupcakes are $2.75 each or four for $10. The Springs Cupcake Truck also recognizes that Colorado Springs is a military city, so anyone with a military ID can buy three cupcakes for $8.25 and get one cupcake free.

In addition to its regular flavors, The Springs Cupcake Truck also has a daily mystery flavor. Some mystery flavors, such as Maple Bacon, may sound dubious, but The Springs Cupcake Truck doesn’t seem capable of creating a bad flavor. The appeal of the unknown and the unusual encourages hungry customers to follow Coco across Colorado Springs.

Although The Springs Cupcake Truck knows a thing or two about cupcakes, it is just as passionate about giving back to the community. “We get a ton of calls from non-profits to raise cash for them,” said Michael Bergman, Operations Manager.

The Springs Cupcake Truck has raised money for animal rescues and donates extra cupcakes, if they are still in good condition, to the Ronald McDonald House. Bergman also pointed out that all donations put into a ceramic cupcake bank, which sits in the corner of the truck’s open window, are gifted to a different charity each month.

This month, The Springs Cupcake Truck is raising money for needy animals.

Its main goal, however, is just to help people. “We try not to discriminate,”

Bergman explained with a chuckle.

Bergman said that he has tried to arrange events with UCCS, but due to issues concerning existing food contracts, The Springs Cupcake Truck has not been able to do business on campus.

of students leave or graduate without experiencing all that is available at this school resting atop the bluffs. Well, here’s a small array of things to take advantage of before kicking the UCCS bucket:

Whiteout Night kicks off on Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. in Berger Hall, as the UCCS women’s volleyball team takes on Colorado College.

Based on a firstcome-first-serve basis, students are offered white T-shirts, Monster Energy Drinks and food in support of the volleyball team. Whether you’re a fan of the sport or not, this event is usually catered with an excess of high excitement, aggressive play and student attendance.

Doug Fine, who reported for the Washington Post, Salon, U.S. News and World Report, Sierra, Wired, Outside and National Public Radio, will share his tales of moving to “an obscure valley in Southern New Mexico to write ‘Farewell, My Subaru,’ to quite simply examine whether a Digital Age Human can live without Petroleum but without giving up any of his Digital Age Comforts.”

You never know, you may learn something.

Thankfully, that doesn’t mean students with a sweet tooth are completely out of luck. Coco is visiting locations across Colorado Springs from Wednesday to Saturday and is regularly parked outside the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at 30 W. Dale

St. on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Coco’s daily schedule can be found at thespringscupcaketruck.blogspot. com. To vote for The Springs Cupcake Truck in The Great Food Truck Race, visit foodtrucks. teamdigital.com. S

Photos by Shandi Gross

CoCo in her glory.

Before you kick the UCCS Bucket…

Matthew Crandall mcrandal@uccs.edu

For a campus that continues to expand, grow and rebuild, UCCS remains as one of the top universities, nationwide, that continues to see record-breaking numbers of incoming freshmen, accompanied by more and more resources, venues and renovations.

However, hiding amongst the thicket of campus growth includes an exponential climb of student life and activities; the shadow attached to UCCS as a “commuter campus” is beginning to fade away like a candle.

The university motto of “reach higher” may need to include something along the lines of “reaching out,” because the once quiet, shy, pubescent University of Colorado-Colorado Springs is beginning to migrate toward an active, participating and flourishing student body.

Campus activities, events, clubs and studentrun organizations are sprouting up like flowers as every year comes and goes, yet a vast number

Free Pancake Tuesdays

For some students, the thought of obtaining a free breakfast every Tuesday at 7 a.m. may bring a sarcastic snarl of rising before noon but, for those attempting to squeeze as much as they can out of every tuition dollar, a free meal sounds quite appealing.

During the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the first floor of the University Center next to the Information Desk, students are encouraged to get their grub on and enjoy a free meal; and who knows, getting an early start every Tuesday may carry a ripple effect for the rest of the week.

Whiteout Night As an annual Mountain Lion’s tradition,

Doug Fine, Sustainability Speaker, author of “Farewell, My Subaru”

Part of pursuing and experiencing higher education has to do with more with listening and less with chatter. Hearing stories and experiences from others may be an exceptional key toward growing as an individual, both personally and academically.

UCCS will open its doors on Sept. 27 to

Flobots Concert Ft. K.Flay & Air Dubai

After having the nationally acclaimed band 3OH!3 put on a concert and show at Four Diamonds almost a year and a half ago, the Flobots and company will be

making their way to the Gallogly Events Center Saturday, Sept. 17 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

And for only $10, students will get a chance to experience the transformation of the Gallogly Events as it goes from hosting volleyball/ basketball to a full-on musical venue.

Although these events represent a mere fraction

of what’s on tap for student life and activities, the point of getting out there is to experience all you can before the clock strikes twelve and UCCS checks in as a memory of your collegiate past.

While we all suit up and show up as students of this university, the culture and diversity waits to be experienced before we all kick the bucket. S

Feature

Page 8

Thrift Stores:

Monday, September 5, 2011

By Catherine Jensen

An economical, sustainable alternative

Thrift

Parting with money can be a sweet sorrow for any strapped or struggling college student, but thrift stores can reduce feelings of buyer’s remorse. Thrift stores are great for those on a tight budget; you can find what you need and still afford your Ramen noodles.

We all are familiar with Goodwill and Arc, but many other stores in the area have affordable goods and are dedicated to serving the community. Here are just a few of Colorado Springs’ hidden thrift stores, consignment and sell and trade stores:

Gospel Shelter for Women Thrift Store 2441 E Platte Ave. 80909 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Great for: Families, everyone Price range: $0.25 to $80+ Charity/Donations: Proceeds from this store go to Liza’s Place, a transitional home for recently homeless or incarcerated women. Donations are accepted any day of the week and a pickup service is offered for larger items.

This one-stop shop is great for families and finding household items. In its four rooms you can find clothes for men, women and children, household items, electronics, books and furniture. Notable items include glasses cases, luggage and toy packages for kids.

The store is fairly clean, well organized and deals can be found throughout the store, including a $0.50 box in the back and a free box with mugs and assorted oddities.

Dishes can be found in complete sets, which is refreshing in comparison to the single pieces that most thrift stores have.

Though perhaps not the place for those who are fashion oriented, there are always steals to be found, among them being a good assortment of shoes and casual to nice dresses.

The staff was friendly, and though the outside may not look the most appealing, everything inside was well labeled, in good condition, categorized by item and easy to spot. It is important to be aware that there are no dressing rooms and no returns, so what you buy is what you get.

St. Paw’s 3275 E. Platte, Unit E 80909 Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Great for: Thrifters, anyone looking for something specific, those who like to bring their pets everywhere Price range: $1.99 to $30+ Charity/Donations: Donations accepted Tuesday through Friday. All proceeds go to local animal rescue groups. As of Aug. 5, 2011, the organization has donated $7,000.

It is cluttered and there are no dressing rooms, but the friendly staff and pets lounging on the couches and floor makes up for it. This small thrift store believes in serving both humans and their best friends and it carries just enough of everything to have a variety to choose from.

Women’s and men’s clothing and shoes can be found in an assortment of sizes, and though nothing is organized by style or color, any avid thrifter will do just fine looking for what they need.

There is a nice assortment of kitchenware and wallets, but oddities like lanterns and fuzzy footrests can also be found. Tables, lamps and anything else you might need for the new apartment is also here and your pet can come too! Items are low-priced and in good condition.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Feature

Page 9

They also offer you the chance to consign your designer clothing and make a percentage of the profit after they are sold.

Lucy’s Consignment Paradise 3373 N Academy Blvd. 80917 318 E Colorado Ave. 80903 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Great for: Fashion conscious women with a little more to spend Price range: $8 - $100+ Items accepted: For consignment only, by appointment. Will not accept items from Wal-Mart, Target or K-mart. Earn 40-50 percent on every item of yours that sells.

Charity work: All items not sold are donated at the end of the month to an assortment of charities including Tessa, One Nation Walking Together and Women’s Resource Center, which helps women prepare for job interviews and, as their website says, “spruce up their wardrobes.”

This colorful boutique is a well-organized eccentric gem that provides newly used designer clothing, shoes and accessories for a lower price.

Clothing ranged from $8 to above $100. Brands sold include everything from Banana Republic to Chanel. Items are coded by style and color and are well organized. The staff wasn’t very approachable, but there was a comfy sitting area in front of the dressing rooms and the contemporary music put me in the shopping mood.

As is not unusual in the designer world, clothing sizes did not have a wide range, but all items were clean and looked like they were brand new.

Some perks of Lucy’s include a weekly happy hour each Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at both locations. Hors d’oeuvres vary each week and range from wine and cheese to pizza and beer. During happy hour, shoppers can receive 20 percent off entire purchases and up to 50 percent off on selected red “X” tags.

Full Figure Resale 1512 B North Academy 80909 Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Fri. 10 a.m. -6:30 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Sun. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Great for: Full figured women looking for “fashion that fits and flatters” Price range: $3 - $70+ Items accepted: Consignment by appointment only.

With everything from swimwear to formal wear, Full Figure Resale offers a decent array of items as well as more than one of each item. Sizes are 16 and up and shoes sizes are 9 and up.

Shoppers must be buzzed in at the door, but the staff is very friendly and the place is organized into style and color.

Though it is a smaller store, dressing rooms are available and clothing is in good condition. Notable items include a large selection of sunglasses and as well as a decent selection of nice lingerie and swimwear.

They also have a good selection of beautiful Adajilo earrings handmade in Colorado. Sexy, fun Halloween costumes are already for sale and items are resupplied frequently.

All photos by Alex Gradisher

- Only 5 minutes from UCCS

- NFL Ticket/ESPN College Package

- Happy Hour M-F @ 4pm-7pm - Late Night Happy Hour M-Th @ 10pm-12am

Consignment

Those who are concerned with being fashion conscious and have a little more to spend will find consignment stores appealing.

The stores selected, though pricey when compared to thrift stores, offer the same deals you might find on clothes at a mall but for better value.

So whether you’re looking for that Versace dress at a killer price, or just looking for some inexpensive basics; whether you want to donate last year’s discarded fashions or want to make a quick buck from them, there is a consignment, thrift or sell and trade store that just might work for you.

Thursdays are college night!

Bring in your college ID and get Happy Hour all night!

Bristol bottles for only $3!

Culture

Page 10

Monday, September 5, 2011

Pikes Peak Lavender Film Fest brings LGBT films to Colorado Springs Catherine Jensen cjensen2@uccs.edu

An adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, lesbian aliens sent to earth to find romance and a musical about being true to one’s self are just some on the list of films that this year’s Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival (PPLFF) has to offer.

The PPLFF, a three-day screening of LGBT films in Colorado Springs, which is the longest-running event of its kind in Colorado, will be held at the Celeste Theater at Colorado College Sept.

23-25.

A testament to the endurance of the gay and lesbian community in Colorado Springs, the fest was created in response to some less than friendly times.

“In the early 1990s, Colorado Springs had become notorious for its gay bashing and being the city that originated the anti-gay Amendment 2. In an effort to improve the reputation of the city, festival producers called upon their deep roots in Colorado Springs and engendered enthusiastic support for the Festival,” expressed the film festivals’ website, pplff.org.

Films are selected from those featured at the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) each year and include a reception on opening night and parties when the three-day long event is over.

Films and short features play from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. during the day with the hope that those interested have time to be able to attend at least one show.

This year’s fest includes an intriguing line-up of promising films opening with “Leave it on the Floor,” a musical that PPLFF’s brochure said that fans of Broadway favorites like “Rent” and “Paris is Burning” are sure to love.

Iranian film, “Circumstance,” which won best dramatic film at Sundance Film Festival last year, explores what happens when home becomes dangerous.

The much anticipated movie, “Gun Hill Road,” tells the story of a teen discovering her gender identity, and her father who must learn to put aside his manhood and accept new concepts of his own.

The festival promises the best selection from the SFIFF that will include international and local films

and cover boundaries of race, class and gender in addition to sexuality.

Sandra Parcher, program coordinator of the LGBT Resource Center on campus, designed the flyer for the event and is on the Board of Producers for the festival.

She has passes available for students in her office in MOSAIC and encouraged students to come by and talk about group deals.

She also reminded students that they are not limited to purchasing packages for a lot of money. Individual film tickets are $10 and free food is available for any show viewed.

Parcher said this year is exciting because the focus is about incorporating many audiences: “This year we are acknowledging that students and young populations do not know about the festival or cannot always afford it. It’s time for revitalization.”

In addition to the LGBT Resource Center, tickets can be purchased at The Underground (110 N. Nevada Ave.), COS and Spice of Life (727 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs) and online at pplff.org. All students and seniors will receive a $5 discount. S

Opening Night: Friday, September 23rd, 2011 Richard F. Celeste Theater, Cornerstone Arts Center, Colorado College

6:00 p.m: Catered Reception with complimentary wine and beer 7:30 p.m. Celebrating 12 years, “Create Your Own Family” Introductions and Acknowledgements 7:45 p.m SHORT FILM: LESBIAN CLICHÉ SONG, Directed by Bob Koherr, 2011, USA, 5 min. Lesbian stereotypes are skewered in song.

Feature Film: LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR directed by Sheldon Larry, USA, 109 min.

Leave it on the Floor sizzles in dance and song. It is a supersized musical, reminiscent of Paris is Burning, Rent and Dreamgirls that features their newly created family of fierce performers, come together to win a trophy in the Ball competition.

Brad is kicked out of his house for being gay. He joins the dance troupe of the House of Eminence and everyone comes together to help him learn the spins, dips and hands.

Attractions develop and a love triangle threatens to destroy all they’ve built.

Director Sheldon Larry deftly weaves original songs with dances choreographed by Frank Gaston, Jr. who worked on Beyoncé Knowles and Michael Jackson’s dance moves. You will be carried away with some of the catchiest songs and dances.

Sheldon Larry, director, Glenn Gaylord, writer and producer and Barbi-Q, a star from the movie, will join us for a conversation. Glenn came to PPLFF the third year as a great future filmmaker with his short film, Lost Cause, a hit that year. He is back with our Opening Feature Film. Glenn, Sheldon and Barbi-Q will be at our festival all weekend.

Festival Passes

September 23 - 25

Opening Night Pass: $30

12th Annual Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival

719-633-5600

Student Opening Pass: $25 Full Festival Pass: $75 Half Pass: $50 Four Film Pass: $35 Individual Tickets: $10

www.pplff.org 719-633-5600

Students/Seniors receive $5 discount

Tickets Available Online at: www.pplff.org Send Checks to: P.O. Box 1987 Colorado Springs, CO 80901 Or Visit for Tickets: Salon Seven 622 S. Tejon Street Phone (719) 632-7774 Spice of Life 727 Manitou Ave Manitou Springs Phone (719) 685-5384

Showing At: Richard F. Celeste Theater In the: Cornerstone Arts Center At: Colorado College,

Also Visit for Tickets: Underground Bar 110 N. Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs Colorado 719-578-7771

Bringing quality international Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Films to Colorado Springs

S.E. corner of Cascade & Cache La Poudre

Monday, September 5, 2011

Culture

Page 11

Givers deliver: A FREE TICKETS: See fresh take on old roots Paper Bird at Stargazers

paper bird with special guests

live at stargazers theater

Friday. September 9th. 2011

Win tickets!

Visit the scribes Facebook for details Enter to win. Simply find funny, creative word combinations in the new word mural (in the UC, by the Information Desk). Submit your combinations to scribe.eic@gmail.com. The person with the most combinations will win two tickets to see Paper Bird at the Stargazers Theater on Sept. 9. All submissions must be received by noon on Thursday, Sept. 8. The winner will be announced Thursday evening.

Photo courtesy of ‘Stache Media

I’m with the band. Just kidding. But these guys are.

$2 Off per person with UCCS ID

Spain, Italy, Australia, England, France, China, New Zealand, Japan

UCCS Fall Study Abroad Fair Thursday, September 8th, 3-6 pm Location: University Center RM 303

Learn about international opportunities available to UCCS students, how to get started, how to use financial aid & scholarships.

Studying abroad can be a life changing experience!

QUESTIONS? Contact the Center for Global Education Tamarinde Doane 255-3065 tdoane@uccs.edu

Chile, Peru, Ghana, Thailand, South Korea, Tanzania, France, Belgium, Brazil

You just can’t help but bob your head when you hear “In Light.” Really, try not to. If you’re looking for an album to lift your spirits on a gloomy Monday morning, this one is certain to put you in a good mood. The debut album from the Louisiana-based indie-rock quintet, Givers, mixes happy, African-esque beats with fun guitar riffs and captivating harmonies, sounding like a modern approach to tribal music.

The album starts on a high note with “Up Up Up.” The heavily percussive tune combines African-style beats with harmonious vocals. It sounds like the cast of “The Lion King” got together to have a dance party, and you can’t help but tap your foot and smile.

It continues with “Saw You First,” which is an upbeat melodic tune reminiscent of “Send Me on My Way” by Rusted Root. “Ripe” combines a tune that I can only describe as Afro-Celtic with electric guitar riffs and the raspysweet sound of singer Tiffany Lamson’s voice, making an interestingly diverse tune that somehow rocks and

relaxes at the same time.

“In My Eyes” reminds me of the spinning feeling of a new love on a starry night. The song seems to spiral upward while drums, guitar and crickets encircle it. The slow, plucky tune of “Atlantic” with the haunting voice of Lamson hovering over it sends you into a happy dream of floating on a cloud. Then the beat picks up and you feel like dancing on your dream cloud.

“Go Out at Night” relaxes you with its sensually slow beat and perfect harmonies between Lamson and singer Taylor Guarisco before finishing strong with “Words.”

The band was first formed by friends Lamson and Guarisco while attending university in New Orleans. They were forced back to their hometown of Lafayette when Hurricane Katrina hit, and it was there that they added the rest of the band. Their unique sound is largely influenced by Guarisco’s background in funk, Cajun and Zydeco, combined with Lamson’s upbringing in classic rock, soul and pop.

And the combination is nothing short of captivating. The creativity and upbeat nature of the music makes this album a must listen. S

Botswana, India, Sweden South Africa, Germany, Dominican Republic, Turkey

Cherise Fantus cfantus@uccs.edu

Nicaragua, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Senegal, Morocco, Jordan, Portugal

Opinion

Page 12

Monday, September 5, 2011

May the MyForce (not) be with you Aaron Collett acollett@uccs.edu

MyForce is a mobile smartphone app that functions like a personal security system. Provide it with your personal information and – in the event of an emergency – pressing the panic button will send your information to the MyForce service center.

MyForce, in turn, evaluates the situation and contacts local law enforcement if need be. Meanwhile, pressing the panic button causes your phone to begin recording sound and video, like OnStar for

your phone.

On the face of it, MyForce is an excellent app.

You can use it to feel safe when walking to your car or working late. You can even use it to keep track of your kids if they have it installed it on their phone.

But the implications of this are worrying. Are the security protocols that are in place to protect the personal information you provide enough to actually protect you? Further, does being tracked – even voluntarily – constitute a privacy violation?

Mobile phone apps in general have recently come under fire. Some apps transmit information

from phones to app suppliers, ostensibly for marketing purposes. Apple and several other third party app suppliers have had class actions lawsuits brought against them under accusations of gathering personal data rather than simply anonymous “aggregate” data.

If apps that aren’t even supposed to have your personal information are gaining access to it, how much greater is the risk when you provide it voluntarily?

It is a misconception that, with the touch of a button, MyForce gives you direct access to the police department, campus safe-

Editorial

ty or whatever security is nearest to you. The reality is that when you press that panic button, all of your information, your location and the sound and video from your phone are made accessible at a service center.

That service center is responsible for analyzing the information and responding to it. It’s possible that the police will be called, but it’s also entirely possible that your information will go into a file and be judged a nonemergency.

The MyForce App uses the GPS locating system that comes standard on most smartphones and

modern iPods. This is problematic because it turns your phone into a tracking beacon.

This is great when you want law enforcement to find and rescue you. It’s not so great when someone you don’t want to find you gains access to a tracker.

Even if the panic button works like it’s supposed to and you are rescued by a police officer, the service center still has all of your information.

That file has your unique phone ID, your name, your address and anything else that the app decided to pull off your phone before you pressed

that button. And once they have it, you have no idea what they are doing with it.

That said, MyForce may be of some use. Assuming that it’s activated and that you manage to hit the panic button in a time of need, it can certainly bring help to you quickly. But it will not think for you; it will not automatically know if you or your children are in danger; it will not protect you from harm by itself.

It is a tool for helping you feel safe, but it will not necessarily keep you any safer than if you didn’t have it. More importantly, it makes you vulnerable to harm of another kind. S

Letter to the Editor

Financial aid woes: It’s Writing Center Speaks Out not the University’s fault Dear UCCS students,

The Scribe Staff

Financial aid is a little like beer: Most of us can’t imagine getting through college without it, but we’re pretty sure that it’s going to cost us somewhere down the road. Of course, as with all dependencies, it is important to recognize that dependence is never a one-way relationship. Alcoholics might need the alcohol industry, but it works the other way, too.

The same is true of financial aid. At first glance, financial aid dependence looks like a one-way relationship, but the situation is far more complex. Of course, students are the most obvious beneficiaries of financial aid, for without it, those of us who couldn’t afford to pay tuition right now simply couldn’t go to school.

But financial aid is crucial to the operation of universities and universities are invested in there being a class of people who go to school even though they cannot afford it. For barring a drastic reduction in the cost of tuition, enrollment rates at universities would plummet were it not for those students supported by financial aid.

State funding for uni-

versities depends in part on enrollment rates, and in an era of declining state funding, lower enrollment would, at best, mean greater austerity measures — more tuition hikes, staff cuts and salary freezes — than we already see.

Except in rare cases, however, universities are not the lenders of student loans. In fact, university financial aid offices are just gatekeepers, bureaucratic hoops students jump through to get to actual lenders.

In some cases, the U.S. government functions as the lender. In other cases, the lenders are corporations like Sallie Mae and Nelnet, whose profitability depends on the existence of that set of students who cannot afford to pay tuition.

Many of these student loans are guaranteed in full faith by the U.S. government, so if you default on your loan, the government promises to pay back the lender. Thus, from Nelnet’s perspective, it’s no source of worry to lend $50,000 over four years to someone who really doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up, because Nelnet knows it will get its money back whether that student goes on to become

a pharmaceutical engineer or drops out after the first semester.

For Nelnet or Sallie Mae, $50,000 might be a drop in the bucket, but for a student, $50,000 might mean decades of being in a creditor’s pocket.

This, of course, is the irony of universities. They are populated by people who spend four years or more trying to climb the socio-economic ladder only to come out the other side buried in debt and forced to do the very thing they went to college to try to avoid – to go out and get a regular old job.

The point of all of this is not to say that financial aid is bad. The point is to acknowledge that debt of any kind is a complex process dependent on multiple nodes in the flow of its unique form of capital.

Financial aid is not a thing, but a complex process composed of people with competing interests, some of whom are as committed to our being in debt as we are to getting out of it.

But there is something empowering about recognizing that fact. For once we see that our debts are not brute facts of the world but rather fluid processes between and among people; we see instead, that they can be contested. S

At universities across the country students have inaccurate impressions of writing centers. While the UCCS Writing Center isn’t in dire straits, the Writing Consultants of UCCS want to take preemptive action to shake this dragged-in-here-by-myangry-teacher-because-I’m-failing reputation. Instead of this common misconception, students need an accurate picture of what the Writing Center is and what happens there. So here it is.

We’re flexible and friendly! There are three different ways to connect with writing consultants. If you’re on campus, you can come in to the Writing Center for 45 uninterrupted minutes—focusing on your specific concerns, whether you’re struggling with writer’s block or have a nearly finished paper. This semester we’re piloting real-time online tutoring.

You can be in your jammies in your apartment and still have a conversation about your writing—just let us know you want to do an online session when you call to schedule. Or, if you’re not available for a real-time appointment, you can access our OWL (online writing lab) via uccs. edu/wrtgctr~/ and upload your paper.

A consultant will answer your questions and offer feedback within 24 hours.

The Writing Center is for good writers! It isn’t just, or even mostly, for “bad” or “remedial” students. In fact, the average GPA of UCCS students who use the Writing Center is higher than the average GPA of students who don’t. We serve as many seniors as we do freshmen, and 10 percent of our clients are graduate students. Regardless of whether you think of yourself as a great writer or

a terrible writer, the Writing Center is a great place to polish your work, a smart place to get a second set of eyes on a paper you’re already satisfied with. Seeking out feedback on writing is something all writers do, and the Writing Center is specifically designed to facilitate that process.

Using the Writing Center is different from meeting with your professor. Instead of a 10-15 minute conference with a professor, in the Writing Center you get 45 minutes with a consultant. Writing Center consultants are graduate and undergraduate students who’ve been trained by the director of the center to help you with your writing.

They’ve got a lot of expertise and can help you find answers to really tough questions. Writing Center consultants offer a different set of eyes and a chance to get feedback on the changes you make after meeting with your professor. Neither is a substitute for the other, but both offer unique advantages.

We’re a hub for resources.

This may be the best kept secret of the Writing Center. We’ve got a full computer lab and hundreds of books that can help you with your writing.

Our lab is a great place to work— regardless of what you’ve got to do.

You’re welcome to use any of the resources—your student fees have paid for them, so you may as well take advantage of them.

If you want to connect with the Writing Center—the one described here— call us (255-4336), check us out on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Come check out the real Center!

Writing

Your friendly UCCS Writing Center Consultants

Life on the Bluffs

Monday, September 5, 2011

Did You Know?

- Julianne Sedillo, jsedillo@uccs.edu

Did you know that in 2008, UCCS adopted an eighteen-month-old mountain lion as its live mascot? Clyde, the mountain lion, was rescued in Montana, but Clyde currently lives at The Big Cats of Serenity Springs sanctuary near Calhan, CO. Occasionally, however, he makes the trip down to UCCS to make appearances at special events, like last year’s Black-Out Night and the grand opening of Clyde’s (the restaurant), for which he is the namesake. Clyde eats approximately six pounds of horse meat per day, which equates to roughly $15 to $20 daily to support his diet. In order to help the sanctuary care for Clyde, donation jars are located at select areas throughout campus, including the UC information desk, the bookstore and the library.

TOP TEN

Campus Chatter

Page 13 -Story by Aaron Collett, acollett@uccs.edu -Photos by Alex Gradisher

The cost of education is growing. It is becoming harder and harder to be a full time student, especially if you don’t have a full-time job. What do the students at UCCS think about the growing burden of college tuition?

Zach Blea Q: How much of the financial burden for college should be on the student, as opposed to other sources, like parents or government?

A: “I think it’s important that students pay for their own college. I don’t think parents necessarily have any responsibility at all. I don’t like how financial aid looks at what your parents make to determine how much you’re going to get. I think government should have a lot more involvement as far as financial aid is concerned because our economy is based on our education.”

Q: How has the rising cost of tuition affected your school plans?

A: “Not at all. Hopefully if I get to where I want to be, the financial cost will pay off in the end.”

Ways to guarantee yourself a parking space at UCCS

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Stephany Mayorga

Save the space with a stolen traffic cone

Q: How much of the financial burden for college should be on the student, as opposed to other sources, like parents or government?

Save the space with road kill

Camp-out (s’mores, anyone?)

A: “I don’t think there should be a lot of financial burden on the student; it should be mainly on government and the school to help people out. Because we students are trying to get an education, if you have that unconscious burden of having to pay off all your schooling, it’s not very good for your health.”

Have your mom save you a space

Q: How has the rising cost of tuition affected your school plans?

Drive a motorcycle

A: “I get a lot of financial aid and this year I didn’t get as much as I usually do. I think it’s because of the rising cost of tuition. It’s hard because you don’t know how you’re going to pay for school.”

Get to school at 7 a.m.

Get to school at 9 p.m.

Never leave school

Be someone famous

Park anywhere BUT on campus

-Molly Mrazek, mmrazek@uccs.edu

Kevin Boyer Q: How much of the financial burden for college should be on the student, as opposed to other sources, like parents or government?

A: “As a broke college student, as much help as students can get to further their higher education is great.

Certain families can’t afford to put their kids through college and it’s tough when you’ve got kids working three different jobs to pay for it themselves. It should be a balance.”

Q: How has the rising cost of tuition affected your school plans?

A: “The rising cost of tuition hasn’t changed my school plans, but it has caused me to seek more employment and take on more loans. So I’m still on the same track for education; I just have to find better ways of paying for it.” S

Page 14

Life on the Bluffs

Monday, September 5, 2011

Thirty days without Facebook Leslie Randolph lrandolp@uccs.edu

promote their businesses.

With such a large target audience that Facebook provides, I can see why.

It’s so easy to “like” and “unlike” a page. You can stay up-to-date on a band or follow a sports team. You can have all the information you want on a daily basis right at

c 2011 Facebook

Yeah, you read that right. Thirty days. Thirty long days. No signing into Facebook on the computer. No using my Facebook app. I don’t get to upload pictures or “check in” to places.

This might be the hardest month of my life… which is why I have to go through with it.

It all started this

summer when I went on a road trip with a friend and I realized that most of our conversations were about Facebook.

My friend kept reading me post after post and it became annoying. Has Facebook really become the only topic of conversation for college students?

We can’t go anywhere without someone mentioning Facebook, and most companies and organizations use it to

Major Confusion Caitlin Levy clevy@uccs.edu

When we are kids and people ask us what we want to be when we grow up, our response is often easy: a fireman, a policeman, a Transformer, a princess. When we are asked again as fifth and sixth graders, our answers change: a doctor, a teacher, an actress, rich.

When we are asked our major in our freshman year of college, however, our response often tends to be a blank stare. Why is it that when kids finally grow up, they suddenly do not know what to do with their lives?

The beginning of a college student’s life is a trial-and-error process in which students take a class or two and decide if they

like it, if they are good at it, or if there is too much work involved for them to care. Instead of trying on a new pair of shoes, they try on new careers until they’ve found the career that fits their size. This process changes and is different with everyone.

Many students may finally find the perfect fit for their lives three years and four majors later.

Part of the difficulty comes from having to take a certain number of required courses. For biology majors, Philosophy 101 feels like a waste of time. Is it a waste of time to learn Modus Ponens?

If A entails B, and A, then B. Is the biology major who studies fish learning logic so that she can argue with a fish?

The same applies to an accounting major who is

taking a theater course to satisfy a public speaking requirement. He may find it very useful if he ever has to perform a song and dance for the IRS while they audit his books.

Although these classes sound unimportant now, you never know where these classes may be important later. As one of my professors said recently in class, “Knowledge is knowledge no matter what kind you get and no one can take it from you.”

You never know when you are going to use it.

How do your shoes fit you? Do they pinch your toes, are they one size too big or are they one-sizefits-all? Don’t be afraid to try on a new career. In four years, it might be like a well-worn pair of shoes that fits perfectly. S

the touch of your fingertip. It’s all in one place, so you don’t have to go searching through the web.

The website is so easy to use that your grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and children are on it. Your entire family is probably on Facebook.

Leading up to this challenge, I’ve

faced many difficulties.

At one point, I considered making up some lame excuse for backing out. When it comes right down to it, I honestly think I’ll freak out after the first day. The biggest issue so far is how to deal with the pressure of my friends.

When I first told them I was temporarily giving up Facebook, they acted as if I was crazy and wondered how they were going to get in touch with me. I know my mom will certainly be disappointed not to have a daily update on her daughter.

It’s not going to be easy, but it’s time for someone to take a break from Facebook.

According to The New York Times, Facebook has over 750 million users worldwide.

It feels like everyone is on Facebook. That’s the problem, though.

Facebook is so much a part of people’s lives that they don’t know how to live without it.

Call me crazy, but I’m going to find out if I can. S

Sports

Monday, September 5, 2011

Page 15

UCCS recreation explodes with variety of fall activities for new students Ryan Adams radams3@uccs.edu

Coordinator of Intramurals, Outdoors and Sport Clubs Daniel Bowan and the UCCS Recreation Center staff have compiled a great activities list for the fall semester, which may allow students of UCCS to partake in another year of tournaments, S.O.L.E. trips and intramural sports.

Bowan always kicks off the semester with a week of sports tournaments, called “Fall Fracas.”

“This is seven days of sports mayhem that offers students multiple opportunities to participate in a variety of activities,” said Bowan. “It’s designed to be fun and engaging, [and] these recreational sports allow students time to get settled into their academic schedules as well.”

Following the week of mayhem comes the fall intramural season, which includes flag football and outdoor soccer. These two sports have seen an increase in participation over the last several years.

“Following Labor Day, our bellwether season, flag football begins with six consecutive weeks under the lights on the turf at Mountain Lion Stadium.

Existing concurrently with football is our outdoor soccer season, which is also hosted down the bluff at Mountain Lion Stadium. Both seasons offer an excellent opportunity for students to partake in a competitive sports experience,” added Bowan.

Both of these intramurals require a sign-up at the Recreation Center and are a great way for freshman to meet new people and allow upperclassmen

to reacquaint with friends they haven’t seen over the summer.

Not only does UCCS Recreation offer “Fall Fracas” and intramurals for students, but they also offer S.O.L.E. (Student Outdoor Leadership Expeditions) trips for students that love the outdoors.

They are located on the north side of the Recreation Center and throughout the year, the S.O.L.E team goes on many different trips, with the first and most popular event being held over Labor Day weekend.

“The outdoor program commences the fall semester with its annual Labor Day Backpacking Trip in Rocky Mountain National Park,” said Bowan. “This multi-day expedition takes full advantage of the splendor of RMNP during a beautiful time of the year, as the aspens golden

Photo by Alex Gradisher

Jennifer O’connell (left) and Lyda Sabolik (right) get their cardio in for the day.

Sophomore Jose Gutierrez works out his abs. and the elks bugle.”

S.O.L.E offers fly fishing and rock climbing trips throughout the semester as well. Students interested in signing up or gathering more information are encouraged

Photo by Alex Gradisher

to stop by the Recreation Center and pick up information sheets that cover all of the fall intramurals, S.O.L.E. trips and other activities going on this semester.

“These single day ad-

ventures are excellent introductions to the activities with no previous experience required [and] as a note, these trips regularly fill up, so students are advised to sign up early,” concluded Bowan. S

Photo by Alex Gradisher

Freshman Chelsea Gondeck swims laps in the rec center’s pool.

Sports the

cribe

The UCCS Recreation Center, pg. 15

Page 16

Monday, September 5, 2011

More talent, committed players: Tryouts ‘successful’ for UCCS club soccer Matthew Crandall mcrandal@uccs.edu

After struggling with commitment and accountability issues last season, the UCCS men’s club soccer team carries high hopes as the squad enters its sophomore season of club competition; tryouts proved to be a success after 42 tenacious, motivated students tried out Aug. 23-25 at Mountain Lion Field.

The tryouts were based on a mixture of individual skill and team play and fitness, allowing an opportunity for players that may have been a bit “rusty” to progress.

Tryouts began with passing and one-on-one drills, until finally increasing toward full-field competition. It didn’t take very long to notice the immense talent scattered across the field.

“The talent that came out this year was better than last and we are hoping this is a continuous trend for the upcoming seasons,” expounded senior Marc Obando, who founded the

club last spring with cofounders Dylan Tyboroski and former UCCS graduate student Ian Richards.

“Dylan [head coach], Ian Richards and myself were able to spot out players we wanted on the first day, and then confirmed our decisions in the following days. I feel confident in the choices we’ve made,” he added.

With a roster comprised of 11 returning players and 11 new players selected from the three-day tryouts, UCCS remains confident they will have a full squad to travel and compete with throughout more than 20 games that lie ahead.

Although there were 11 players returning from last year’s team, the pool of new talent that tried out applied pressure on many of the club veterans, with a feeling that no one’s spot was guaranteed.

“The tryouts this year were exceptionally tighter than last year,” said returning senior David Henriquez. “A lot of talented freshmen tried out and it challenged me and made me realize that no one was

safe or guaranteed to make the team; it was great to see that many guys interested in playing club soccer this year.”

For a club that is nonprofit, all members are required to pay a fee, which goes toward the league, uniforms, warmups and transportation.

UCCS competes in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League and will compete against many clubs from University of Colorado-Boulder, Colorado State, Air Force Academy, Colorado School of Mines and several others.

The men’s first home

meet, Misch believes that this year’s team is poised for a big year.

A recently released RMAC coaches poll ranked UCCS for a seventh place finish in the conference. But with 12 returning veterans and a successful summer of training behind them, the pieces appear to be in place for UCCS to make a return trip to nationals after missing out last year.

“Experience on the men’s side is a big factor, partially because the conference and region we’re in is the best in the country,” said Misch. “They’ve put the work in now and expect big things in return from each other. They know it’s their year.”

One runner to keep an eye on this year will be junior, Mike English.

After coming off a 29th place finish at last year’s regional meet, English has his sights set on becoming an All-American.

“English has bought in [and] he has had a big summer,” said Misch, via gomountainlions. com. “He wants to be an All-American and he is starting to act like what it takes to become an AllAmerican on and off the field of play.”

Featuring a plethora of young runners, the women’s squad was picked to finish eighth in the RMAC preseason poll.

With no seniors and only two returning runners from last year’s regional team, Coach Misch still expects his inexperienced team to have a successful year.

“The women’s team is

pretty young, but I think we have a good group of ladies who will be right in the mix in the RMAC. They are go-getters and we have some competitors in the bunch that I think underestimate themselves. So I believe with experience, the results will take care of themselves.”

The women will be led by top returning runners, Veronica Sandoval and Sara Kettelkamp.

The Mountain Lions first meet is at the Rust Buster Open at Monument Valley in Colorado Springs on Sept. 10. Other notable meets include a trip to Spokane, WA on Sept. 24 at the Runners Soul Invitational, as well as the Regional Meet at Washington Park in Denver on Nov. 5. S

Zach Luetzen kicks the ball during a scrimmage.

Photo by Ariel Lattimore stand will be played at Mountain Lions Field Sept. 25 over a doubleheader against Colorado State and Johnson and Wales at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.

Students are encouraged to attend the day’s festivities and support the team as they traverse into their

second season of play.

Since the team is recognized as a UCCS club, any and all students are welcome to participate and compete in scheduled team practices. For more information, please contact Marc Obando at marcobando_45@hotmail. com. S

UCCS Cross Country Season Preview Top five ways to get Tyler Bodlak tbodlak@uccs.edu When it comes to NCAA Division II crosscountry, one conference towers above the rest: The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). For the past 13 years, four of the top ten teams at nationals have come from the RMAC. UCCS will find itself running against a conference comprised of many talented teams every week during the fall semester.

To some, this may be a tall order, but it’s one that has UCCS Cross-Country Head Coach Mark Misch, excited for the upcoming season. Despite a middle-of-the-pack finish for the Mountain Lions during last year’s regional

involved on campus -Ryan Adams, radams3@uccs.edu

1. Participate in the flag football or outdoor soccer intramurals at Mountain Lion Stadium. It will be guaranteed fun and it is a great way to meet new people with the same interests.

2. Take part in the S.O.L.E trips that are happening this fall semester. Colorado is known for its great outdoor state parks and beautiful locations. If you have never been to the mountains or rock climbed, take part! It may be nerve racking at first, but if you don’t try, you’ll never know.

3. Work out at the gym. Many UCCS students, new and old, work out at the state-of-the-art Rec. Center. If you are up there enough, maybe you can meet a new workout buddy or two.

4. Enjoy the swimming pool and hot tub. These are both underrated, but each is a great place to meet people and chat. So grab your swim trunks, head up there with a buddy and enjoy!

5. Play in a pick-up basketball game. There are always people up at the Rec Center looking for a quick game of five-on-five or three-on-three. If you know anything about playing basketball, you should have no problem getting in on an impromptu game or two!